Term-Time Holiday Fine - the law?

peachyprice

jackyann wrote: »

I note that in the "exceptional circumstances" quoted above there is no mention of religious observance or family celebrations.

You don't need permission for religious observance, you tell them the dates your children won't be at school, they can't refuse.

nodiscount

peachyprice wrote: »

It should be on you LEA website, that's where I found mine.

I googled 'term time holidays' and my LEA, it was under 'attendance' then 'legal action to enforce absence'

That's the first thing I tried but its not on the net. Have written an email requesting a copy. Not holding breath!

nodiscount

jackyann wrote: »

I know it doesn't help anyone facing this situation, but I took my children out of school for 2 weeks every year until the eldest was doing GCSE work. They all have good degrees from good universities.
I think it a great shame that schools don't feel able to be flexible, and I note that in the "exceptional circumstances" quoted above there is no mention of religious observance or family celebrations.

The legislation does refer to exceptions for religious observance:

The child shall not be taken to have failed to attend regularly at the school by reason of his absence from the school—

(a)with leave,

(b)at any time when he was prevented from attending by reason of sickness or any unavoidable cause, or

(c)on any day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which his parent belongs.

Fines can't be imposed if absence is related to above.

peachyprice

nodiscount wrote: »

That's the first thing I tried but its not on the net. Have written an email requesting a copy. Not holding breath!

It should be published, try searching the LEA site for 'truancy' there was a copy published in that section too on mine.

bitemebankers

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Complying with the rules of an organisation is also a good life lesson for a child... they need to know and understand that rules are there for a very good reason.

I disagree. Children should be taught to evaluate rules and regulations critically, rather than mindlessly obeying.

Lying and pretending to be sick is unacceptable as an example to set a child.

Why is it? By the time they reach school age, most children will have learned how to lie. The best you can do as a parent is to teach them when to lie, and to whom, and when it's inappropriate to lie.

Using that old chestnut of 'travel is also an education' is also something reeled out as an excuse.

Seems reasonable to me. I certainly learned a lot as a child when travelling with my family.

bitemebankers

Lying, and more important, knowing when to lie, is a vitally important life skill...

Tiggy10

im not sure if this is helpful to you, but Im a teacher at a school where the vast majority of my pupils have family overseas. They take long periods of time off- some I have had have been known to take up to 6 weeks term time off as familys save up for ages to go.

the holiday goes down as unauthorised by the head teacher but the parents are never fined.

Of parents who try to lie about their kids time off- the child usually doesn't keep quiet. One girls mum told me she needed a day off for a dentist appointment. As soon as mum left she said - im going to my uncles wedding!

Treevo

It's my understanding that from this year schools have no choice in regards to fining parents. In the case of the above where parents are taking their children away for six weeks - good.

emweaver

One of the teachers at my daugthers school is off this week ON HOLIDAY. She told them all in dance club last week this week was cancelled as she is on holiday but I was sure my daughter got it wrong until the head sent the parents a text message.

peachyprice

Tiggy10 wrote: »

im not sure if this is helpful to you, but Im a teacher at a school where the vast majority of my pupils have family overseas. They take long periods of time off- some I have had have been known to take up to 6 weeks term time off as familys save up for ages to go.

the holiday goes down as unauthorised by the head teacher but the parents are never fined.

Of parents who try to lie about their kids time off- the child usually doesn't keep quiet. One girls mum told me she needed a day off for a dentist appointment. As soon as mum left she said - im going to my uncles wedding!

You do know that's changed from this September?